Archive for the ‘Literature’ Category

WE design publishing a small monthly paper, containing matter for the benefit of the youth. And we are satisfied that our brethren and sisters will agree with us, that something of the kind is very much needed. The children should have a paper of their own, one that will interest and instruct them.

God is at work among the children who have believing parents, or guardians, and many of them are being converted, and they need to be instructed in the present truth. And there are a portion of the children who have believing parents, or guardians, who are neglected, and do not have right instruction, consequently, they do not manifest much interest for their own salvation. We trust that such a paper as we design publishing would interest such children, and also be the means of waking up their parents, or guardians to a sense of their important duty. On them rests the awful responsibility of training souls for the kingdorn of God. But it is a lamentable fact that many of their children are left without suitable instruction. We feel more on this subject than we can express. May God wake up his people to a sense of their duty to those young minds, intrusted to their care, to guide in the channel of virtue and holiness.

We intend to give four or five lessons, in the form of questions and answers, in each number, one for each week for Sabbath-School lessons. These Schools can be held where there are but two or three children as well as where there are more.

We invite our brethren and sisters, also our young friends, to furnish matter, original or selected, for the little paper. Let all be free to write. Communicate your thoughts with simplicity and clearness, with a heart that feels the condition of the tender, yet neglected youth, that must soon witness the day of the Lord. We hope that matter for the first number will be sent in immediately, as we wish to prepare it before we leave for our Eastern tour.

We publish this paper on our own responsibility, and think it duty to set the price at twenty five cents for a volume of twelve numbers, to be paid in advance, or within three months from the date of the first number.

Will some brother in each place, obtain all the names of the children that desire the paper, collect the means to pay for it, and forward it to us.

The paper will cost, including postage, only about three cents a month. Many little boys and girls spend enongh for candies and toys, that are of no real value, to pay for five or six such papers. We mean that all the children that cannot pay for it, who wish to read it, shall have it free, and we have no doubt but many of the children will deny themselves of toys, so as to be able to pay for their own, and some poor little boys’ or girls’ paper. We hope our young friends will do what they can, and we will try to give them an interesting and instructive little sheet.

As our boat was detained in the harbor of Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, over Christmas, we improved the opportunity by going on shore and making the acquaintance of some of the persons with whom the International Tract and Missionary Society had been in correspondence.

When it was known that we were there in the interests of the tract society, we had no lack for friends, and we were gladly welcomed by all. Some had been receiving the Signs and other publications, which they had eagerly read and circulated ; in some instances carrying them on foot twenty miles to their friends. In this way very many had heard something of our work, and as a result, one family had begun the observance of the Sabbath, and others are convinced. This brother belonged to the Church of England, and as they were unable to convince him that he was in error, they expelled him from their midst. This incident only increased the discussion of the Sabbath question, and many questions were asked us on this subject. We tried to show them that Christians should honor Christ by keeping his law.

Services were desired before we left, and the Baptist mission building was kindly offered us. Christmas day with this people is wholly given up to amusements; but the invitation sent out soon gathered in quite a company, who gave good attention as we tried to present a few thoughts from Rom. 1 : 16.

AFTER my last report, I spent a few days at Trinidad, Where “nothing has ever been done in the interests of the present truth, except that brother Arnold is now delivering large numbers of ”Great Controversy,” and the International Tract Society is commencing a correspondence, which is showing good results. This is a beautiful island, and one in which ministerial labor should soon be begun. As I visit these fields, and see the open doors before us on every hand, my heart goes out in prayer for our people to awaken to the responsibility that rests on us to support our foreign work, that we may extend it into all these islands and other countries toward which we have hardly turned our attention. There are about seventy thousand Hindus in Trinidad, or about one third of the population. Many of them have received a knowledge of the true God, and we should be doing something for them.

I spent twenty-two days in British Guiana, from April 27 to May 19. Five years ago Elder G. G. Rupert labored here two months, and brother Geo. King sold some books. A small church was organized. Last year brother Arnold sold several hundred books in the colony, which has a population of about three hundred thousand, of whom one third are Hindus. The church has struggled along under difficulties, among which has been a division in their own numbers; but in the face of all these, others have received the truth, and there has never been so widespread an interest to know more of the message, as there is at the present time.

My labors were bestowed chiefly upon the church and the believers. By the blessing of God, differences vanished, hearts were united, and I believe that much good was accomplished. I went out eighty-five miles in the country, held a few meetings, and baptized eight, and later sixteen were baptized in Georgetown, of whom three were Hindus. The church was strengthened, and I left it with a membership of forty-one. The officers were unanimously chosen, and we felt that the Lord sanctioned the service when the elder and deacons were set apart for their work, with prayer and laying on of hands. At the farewell service, we celebrated the ordinances, and it was a time of refreshing. If all continue to walk in unity and love, the influence of the cause may be greatly extended. This is an important field, and we should have one minister located in this colony, to develop the interest that now exists.

1884
Served on the nominations committee for the first annual meeting of the Sanitarium Improvement Company. YB 1885, p. 66

TO AUSTRALIA

1885
The first party of Seventh-day Adventist missionaries, consisting of S. N. Haskell, J. 0. Corliss, M. C. Israel (ministers), W. Arnold (a colporteur from Michigan), and H. Scott (a printer),; landed in Australia. Melbourne was chosen as the first field, and it proved a fruitful one, for at the close of 1886 there was a church of one hundred members established. RH 1918, V95-31

J. O. Corliss’ wife and two children came as well; as did Israel’s wife and their two daughters. On May 10, they took passage on the ship Australia from San Francisco, and twenty-eight days later landed in Sydney, June 8. In about a month from then they were all settled in Richmond, Melbourne, and on July 4, 1885, they held their first Sabbath school, their membership being eleven persons, comprising workers and their families (as listed above). They met in Haskell’s rented house in Richmond, Victoria (AAR 1901-07 sp03, p. 13).

The original Minute book for this gathering “recorded the following: Superintendent, Pastor S. N. Haskell; secretary, Jane Israel. The lesson study was, ‘The Saints’ Inheritance,’ and ten were present as students. No offering was recorded.” AAR 1965-33, p.2.

In less than three weeks, on July 21, a mission was opened in the Temperance Hall, Richmond. A little later that year, with the mission work well begun in Australia, S. N. Haskell left for New Zealand. RH 1948-19, p. 16

“These laborers met with opposition from both the pulpit and press. They worked as best they could, visiting, holding Bible-readings, and selling books, Brother Arnold selling over 1000 copies of Daniel and Revelation in Melbourne in less than a year. Many tears were shed and prayers offered in connection with this first year’s work. ” AAR 1901-08, p. 10.

“With the first contingent of workers came also Brother H. 8cott, the printer of the party. It was in the bedroom of Brother Scott in Richmond that the first type was set up and it was then conveyed by handcart to the local press for the printing of our first literature in Australia.

“Quite a number of older brethren will remember the old Bible Echo printed at Best Street, North Fitzroy. The printing press for this paper was given by Brother Arnold, who gladly donated £250 earned by the sale of “Daniel and the Revelation…” AAR 1935-30, p. 11.

TO ENGLAND

1887
November 22, Tenth Meeting of the 1887 General Conference Session: “26. That Wm. Arnold, now in Australia, go to England to help in establishing the canvassing work there.” YB 1888, p. 41.

1888
In June, 1888, Bro. Wm. Arnold arrived from Australia, and spent a few weeks canvassing for “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation.” His efforts were attended with marked success. The willingness to read on the subjects presented in the Bible readings which have been held, is continually increasing, and many families have become interested in different parts of the city. Several soldiers at the barracks at Southampton have embraced the truth principally by reading. YB 1891, p. 75
Noted as England’s first colporteur. TCOG, 1945-3, p.5
1889
April, May and June; Arnold “very successful” in London. YB 1891, p. 76

THE WEST INDIES

“The work in the West Indies was begun by Brother Wm. Arnold, in the winter of 1888-9. He visited and sold books on the islands of Santa Croix, Saint Kitts, Nevis, Antigua, Montseratt, and Barbadoes. He gave to the International Tract Society the addresses of 1,200 persons who had purchased ” Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation” from him, and the society began sending literature to them and corresponding with them. A number began to obey as the result of this work.

1890
On November 7, 1890, Elder Dexter A. Ball sailed to Barbadoes, in company with Brother Arnold. A gentleman owning a mission building in Bridgetown invited Elder Ball to hold meetings in his chapel, and fifty-seven discourses were preached. A number accepted the truth, and since then a church has been organized.

Saint Vincent was then visited by Elder Ball, and also Antigua. At the latter place, the work of a sister who had become acquainted with the truth in London, England, had led several to accept it. About sixty services were held here, and twenty-six persons joined the believers in the West Indies. – Saint Kitts and Santa Croix were also visited. At Montseratt, an open-air service was held, and a number of books were sold.

1891
“We have also been able to respond to the pressing calls from the West Indies by sending Elder D. A. Ball of the Pennsylvania Conference to labor in that field, and with him Wm. Arnold.” YB 1891, p. 46

“Elder Ball then revisited Saint Kitts, to make arrangements for Brother Charles D. Adamson to enter the work. While there, three persons signed the covenant, as the result of personal work. On the way to Barbadoes, a few days were spent at Dominica. Reaching Barbadoes, after a long absence, it was found that the brethren there were of good courage, and their numbers had been increased. Brother Adamson joined Elder Ball in the work there for about six weeks, when, they went to the island of Grenada. Here they found a number keeping the Sabbath as the result of a brother’s efforts, who had received the truth through reading a book which he had purchased in South America.

“Brother Wm. Arnold is still canvassing in the islands, with good success.” YB 1892, p. 74, 75

IN DEMERARA (GUYANA)

Arnold works in Demerara (Guyana); writes a descriptive letter home to his children.

I find little difficulty in getting recommendations from influential people, having secured haif a dozen testimonials from among the clergy of this city (Battle Creek). The canvasser needs but little capital in selling this instrument, as deliveries are made as fast as opportunity affords, and In this way he will find his influence constantly increasing. A splendid opportnnity is also afforded to do missionary work among the suffering, and the canvasser can make good wages besides.

I predict a large sale for the Magic Pocket
Vaporizer.” ALUG 1904-45, p.11

HOME IN NEW YORK STATE

1908
April 25-26, Mr. and Mrs. Arnold attend a meeting at West Valley, New York. “We were glad to see Brother and Sister Wm. Arnold present. Brother Arnold is not very strong physically, but his courage and hope in the Lord is strong. ” ALUG 1908-19, p. 4.

IN the printing and publishing work it is essential, not only that we have something of importance to communicate to the people, but that we have also means whereby it can be printed for circulation. The desire to print and the possession of thoughts which ought to be printed, will not alone furnish money for the purchase of paper, and meet the printer’s bills.

Those who first accepted the Sabbath truth under the message of the third angel of Rev. 14: 9-12, were largely those who had invested their all in the proclamation of the first and second messages. So with them the printing of the newly received light was an undertaking of no small magnitude; for they had not the money with which to pay the bills.

Pastor Joseph Bates, of New Bed ford, Massachusetts, was the first among this people to undertake the printing of the Sabbath truth. Before accepting the advent message, he had followed the sea for fifty years, acting first as cabin boy, rising from that position to master and part owner of vessels. When he retired from the sea, he sold his interest in a ship for £2,200. DUring his sea-faring life he had been among icebergs, had experienced about every vicissitude of sailor life, had been impressed as a seaman into British service, and imprisoned for many weeks in Calcutta because he refused to serve under British rule.

His experiences had developed in him stability of character, and a disposition to stand firmly for what he deemed to be right. One circumstance connected with his experience while preaching the first angel’s message in Maryland, will serve to illustrate this characteristic. He and Brother Heman Gurney, a singing evangelist, were holding meetings during the time of the January thaw. The roads were very muddy, caused by rain and melted snows. Great interest was manifested in their meetings; but Satan was enraged, and stirred up the “baser sort” of the town to mob these servants of the Lord.

The leader of the mob sent a messenger to Brother Bates, saying, “If you and Gurney do not leave town within the next twenty-four hours, we will ride you out of town on a rail.” Brother Bates read the message, and said to the man who brought it, “You tell your leader that it is exceedingly bad walking through all this mud. Of course riding would be much better than walking. His proposition is all right, if he will only remember to put a saddle on the rail.” The leader of the mob was compelled to admire the man who would venture such an answer, and he restrained his followers from any molestation of these brethren in their work. Such a courageous man was needed to lead out in the work of establishing Sabbath-keeping companies, and to begin the work of printing the Sabbath truth. He had the courage and faith to venture upon what he saw must be done, fully expecting to see the Lord prosper the same, even though he could not see just how all was to be accomplished.

This pioneer labourer started out to give the message without one printed page of any kind, aside from the Bible, to place in the hands of his hearers. After he had spoken till nine o’clock he was probably occupied for one, two, or three hours in answering questions and objections. No wonder he thought it would be an excellent help if he had some reading matter to hand out to the people to aid them in investigating the truth. Seeing, as he prayed over the matter, the utility of the enterprise, and yet not knowing where the money was to come from to accomplish his purpose, unless the Lord should specially provide, he took his Bible, concordance, pen, and paper, and entered upon his task.

He had been thus occupied not more than an hour when Mrs. Bates came into the room, and said, “Joseph, we have not flour enough to make out the baking.” “Well,” said Brother Bates, “how much do you lack?” She replied, “About four pounds.” “Well,” said her husband, “I will get it for you.” Then she mentioned some other articles which she needed. Brother Bates saw that it was going to take the last money he had, sixpence, to buy what she wanted. After Mrs. Bates retired from the room, he took a six- quart milk pan, and went to the provision store, bought the four pounds of flour and the other articles desired, spending the last of his money. Having set the articles on the table, he went again to his writing.

Soon Mrs. Bates came in, and seeing the articles on the table, she said, “Joseph, where did that flour come from ? ” “Why,” said Brother Bates, “is there not enough to make out your baking? you said you wanted four pounds.” Let it be noted here that Mrs. Bates had no idea that they had come to the end of their money. She persisted in asking, “Where did you get it?” As she afterwards said, she supposed he had been to some of the neighbours, and borrowed the four pounds of flour. He calmly replied, “I bought it.” This aroused her pride, and she said, “You, Captain Rates, who have sailed vessels all over the world, have been out and bought four pounds of floor!” She looked upon it as a very humiliating episode for a great sea captain’s family. Brother Bates of course had now to inform her of the real situation. He calmly said, “Wife, for those articles on the table I have paid out the last money I have on earth.”

Amid her violent sobs and tears, she said, “What are we going to do ?” He stood and said, with all the dignity of a captain commanding his ship, “I am going to write a book on the Sabbath question. I am going to get it printed, and I am going out to give the third angel’s message and the Sabbath truth to the world.” Almost blinded by her tears, Mrs. Bates replied, “Yes! but what are we going to live on?” He then replied, “The Lord will provide for that.” “Yes,” said she, “that is what you always say”; and she retired to her room to weep, while he, a penniless man, seated himself at the desk to resume his writing of the first Sabbath tract ever issued by Seventh-day Adventists.

A BRIEF report and summary of the religious liberty work in the Central Union Conference the past winter, including the effort put forth in the legislature at Jefferson City, Mo., last April, may not be uninteresting to readers of the REVIEW.

Sunday bills were introduced in all of the legislatures of our territory, with the exception of Wyoming; and though Sunday rest associations and individual advocates have urged their adoption, we are glad to ‘be ‘able to say that all of these bills have failed of adoption, nearly all being defeated in committee. Missouri had .the largest number of bills of any single State,— six in all,— and these were defeated. With the exception of a hearing granted Mrs. Wightman and the writer by a committee at Jefferson City, there were no public hearings. It is quite certain that newspaper correspondence upon the subject of Sunday legislation, private letters of protest, the judicious use of religious liberty literature, and direct personal work with the representatives of the people, have, altogether, ‘been effectual in halting further Sunday legislation in the Central Union Conference territory. From the reports I have received from the State secretaries from time to time, I am sure vigorous efforts have been put forth by them, and that signal success has attended these efforts.

At Jefferson City, Mo., April 10, a resolution was offered in the House of Representatives granting Mrs. Wight- man the privilege of using the House of Representatives Hall on the evening of April 12. The night was exceedingly disagreeable, yet a large number of the legislators and senators were present. They listened with marked attention, and frequently applauded points of the lecture.

At the conclusion of the lecture a large number of the legislators, including the speaker, the Republican floor leader, and chairman of committees, came crowding forward to the speaker’s stand, asking almost numberless questions. For an hour we were kept busy replying to these. Mrs. Wightman was asked if she would give the same lecture to the legislature the next day. Of course she re- plied in the affirmative. The following morning, Mr. Conran offered a resolution inviting Mrs. Wightman to speak to the House of Representatives at five o’clock on the “Object of Civil Government,” which was unanimously agreed to. At five o’clock scarcely a single member — 156 in all — was absent from his seat. Many of the wives and families were present, a number of senators came over from the Senate chamber, and the public galleries were well filled. In the lower gallery were the prohibition and temperance forces which were advocating a constitutional amendment for State-wide prohibition.

It will ‘be impossible to give the results of this meeting with the legislators in detail. The mention of a few incidents may be of interest. Three of the leading members requested that they be furnished all the information and literature upon the subject that was possible, while the requests for the Sunday Mail Report were so many that we decided to furnish every member a copy of the same, and did so. Personal interviews granted by many of the members disclosed an amazing interest in the subject of religious liberty and the dangers of religious legislation, plainly presented to them. Returning to Jefferson City two weeks later, we found that this interest had not abated at all; rather it had increased. A voluminous correspondence has since been carried on; and all indications, without exception, augur for good. One of the strongest Sunday-law advocates in the House completely changed his views. He said: ” Missouri evidently ought to be just where California is — without a Sunday law.”

The Speaker of the House gave us a letter of introduction to Speaker Shurtleff, of the Illinois House of Representatives, being anxious to have the Illinois Legislature hear the same doctrine of government, from which I quote, in part: —

” On April 13 Mrs. Wightman addressed the members of the legislature on the object of civil government. Her lecture was listened to with marked attention, gave general satisfaction, and made a profound impression on the minds of many of the members.” Letters of introduction to the city officials Of St. Louis were given us, and to many of the county officials of the • State of Missouri, and to certain members of Congress and United States senators at Washington. This, too, in my opinion, has opened a larger door to the press of Missouri, as nothing else, perhaps, could have done.

A brief summary of the work of the religious liberty department of the Central Union Conference (not including the work of the State departments) for a twelve-month is as follows: Religious liberty lectures given, 265; number of persons in audiences, approximately, 30,000; -newspaper articles published, in 94 different newspapers, 156, reaching, in the aggregate, 8,000,000 readers; personal visits, 2,800; pages of religious liberty literature distributed, 143,000; letters written, multigraph process and otherwise, approximately, 4,000.

We praise the Lord for the privilege and the “blessing of working with him.

I. H. Evans: It has been arranged this morning for the unions in the United States and Canada to finish their reports. We will now call upon Brother M. N. Campbell, of the Canadian Union Conference.

M. N, Campbell (reading):

It is with pleasure that I submit to this body of delegates the third quadrennial report of the Canadian Union Conference. This organization ‘includes within its territory the eastern half of the Dominion .of Canada, and consists of the Ontario, Quebec, and Maritime Conferences, and ‘ the Newfoundland Mission Field, embracing a population of. 5,000,000. For convenience I will present the work of the. union under the various department headings, considering first —

The Evangelical Department

The evangelical work of the Canadian Union Conference is carried forward by 16 ordained and 8 licensed ministers, besides 18 workers holding missionary credentials..

The work which for years has moved along so slowly is gathering momentum, and the seed-sowing of former years is now. bearing fruit. During the last twelve months alone 5 new churches have been organized, and the membership of one old church raised from 18 to nearly one hundred members, thus adding 150 to our membership alone, aside from all other work.

The introduction of the third angel’s message has met with determined opposition from pulpit and pew, being looked upon as an unwelcome innovation. However, our literature has been faithfully distributed for the last twenty years, and during the same period the living preacher has proclaimed the message by word of mouth, and now the flinty rock of conservatism is breaking down under the heavy blows of the hammer of truth. The heaviest ingatherings are still before us in Canada, and the time has evidently arrived when the reapers may look for large returns from their labors, for the harvest is fully ripe.

The most serious problem confronting the union at the present time is the evangelization of the great French-speaking population of the Province of Quebec. That province, except for a narrow fringe of territory along the border of Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York, is solidly French Catholic. No Catholic nation of Europe is more intensely Catholic than is Quebec. Great Catholic cathedrals, monasteries, convents, and schools abound in. all parts of the province, while long-robed priests and monks are to be met with at every turn. The people are held in absolute subjection to the man of sin, who, on the banks of the Tiber, “sitteth in the temple of God showing himself that he is God.”

The General Conference has made a special appropriation this year for the employment of French colporteurs to carry our literature and visit among, the French people of that province. These workers have already been secured. We think that the printed page can enter and work where the living preacher would be rigorously excluded. Elder Vuilleumier is now stationed in Montreal, and is gaining a foothold in that city.

Another problem of no small .magnitude is the matter of carrying the message to the numerous fishing villages that line the coast of the great island of Newfoundland. These villages are accessible only by sailing vessels, and then only during the limited period of open -navigation. We have four laborers on the island at present, one ordained minister, a licentiate and his wife, and a church-school teacher. A start has been made in some of the larger towns, and souls are accepting the truth.

The believers in this union are organized into forty-three churches and six companies. Definite plans are being carried into execution to set every believer at work at something, especially with our .tracts and magazines. At Montreal a license fee of one hundred dollars is exacted from canvassers. This for a time seemed to be an insuperable barrier to. our book and magazine work in that city. One of our workers who attempted to sell magazines without a license was confined in jail several days. The church at that place made the matter a subject of special prayer, asking the Lord to remove this restriction to the work, which was proving such a hindrance. These prayers were heard in heaven, and since that time our workers have been entirely unmolested, and the magazine work is being carried on extensively in that city. Thus are the high walls being thrown down before the advance of the message in Canada.

Institutions

There is but one union institution in eastern Canada,— the Canadian Publishing Association. Though carrying quite a ponderous name, its equipment is of a very modest order, consisting of a small press of sufficient size to print the union paper, and a few small pieces of machinery suitable to the simplest kind of work. Nevertheless, this press is kept on the move, turning out literature for this field. We find that some of the most important tracts are so strongly tinctured with Americanism that they are quite unpalatable to the average Canadian reader, and it is necessary to revise and reprint them for that field.

For some years in the past the handling of the literature in the Canadian Union field has been under the exclusive control of the Canadian Publishing Association, but this year tract societies are being established and canvassing agents are being placed in the field. We believe that this move will strengthen the book work materially, and give an impetus to the work generally.

About thirty miles east of Toronto, at Oshawa, Ontario, is located the Buena Vista Academy, which was transferred from Lorndale to its present location last year. A farm of 237 acres has been secured, on which have been erected buildings suitable to the needs of the institution.

It. has come to be quite well recognized that educational work higher than the twelfth grade must be furnished for our young people within the Canadian field itself, as experience has demonstrated that few of those who. go to the States for their advanced training ever return to labor in the home field. This has seriously depleted our ranks, for when the young people settled down in the States, their parents frequently followed them. Aside from this, the native Canadian worker has a very great advantage in laboring among his own people, and steps must be taken to train the young people in the field.

The new institution at Oshawa has a capacity for 75 boarding students, and is in many respects admirably adapted to the work suggested for it We are sure that the guiding hand of the’ Lord was manifest in the location of this school, and we look forward to seeing it develop into an important factor in the work of proclaiming the third angel’s message in the Canadian provinces.

At Williamsdale, Nova Scotia, is located the Maritime Conference Academy, a school that has served that section of the Canadian Union for nine years. Situated about twelve miles from town, among the Cobiquid Mountains, it is safe from the allurements of city life. Its capacity has been tested to the limit the present year, and several had to be refused admittance for lack of space to properly care for them. This academy closes the year with a splendid record for both spiritual and scholastic work accomplished, and has the additional satisfaction of having all its accounts and expenses paid, and one thousand dollars cash in the bank.

One of the oldest, if not the oldest, intermediate schools in the denomination is located at Fitch Bay, in the province of Quebec. There, amid the most beautiful surroundings of mountains and lakes, for nearly twenty years a school has been maintained that has given a training in Christian education to from training in Christian education to from twenty to forty students each year.

At St. Johns, Newfoundland, a school is maintained which is rapidly growing its present quarters The attendance ranges from forty to fifty. Quite a proportion of the students are children of those not of our faith.

Medical Work

There is no sanitarium work carried on under conference supervision in this union. Two small sanitariums under private management and an equal number of treatment-rooms comprise the work in that line. The membership of the union should be at least doubled before any countenance is given to the establishment of a sanitarium.

Financial

We are glad to be able to report that the believers of the Canadian Union are determined to keep abreast of their •American brethren in the matter of giving to the support of the message, In 1912 the Canadian Union went two hundred dollars above the quota of fifteen cents a week per member for foreign missions. They have no notion of dropping below that mark the present year. The per capita of tithe is on the up grade.

In concluding this report, I am glad to assure you that the courage and faith of the workers and the people of the Canadian Union is bright, and we look forward to the coming quadrennial period as the time when our growth will be commensurate with the means and labor that have been expended on the field.

Our mission is said to have the most conservative territory in Colombia. The foreigner has little chance as a merchant due to fanatical provincialism. This state of things has caused many of the most liberal families to move away from the immediate influence of the “ecclesiastical palace.”

In all our activities, we have met with opposition; and the Catholic dailies have been true to their duty to warn the public against going near us. Under these circumstances, it was hardly to be expected that we would have large audiences, as the people feared the consequences; and it was evident that our success would be, rather, in doing house to house work.

To show how closely we were watched in our activities, I will say that when I left home to help one of our native colporteurs, a telegram was sent saying the Adventists had left for the interior with large supplies of literature. The result was that the priest of the town discouraged the people from buying even our health book, and all except two merchants obeyed. In the next town, however, we were able to gain the confidence of the people through the rector of the university.

Considerable time has been consumed in finding a place of worship for our little church. Since any proprietor, who dares to rent us, shares our lot in persecution, it usually happens that we are obliged to change location about every six months.

We are deeply grateful to our present governor who has promised to protect us according to law; and we are profoundly grateful to the Lord that a recent attempt to deprive us of being tolerated as religious teachers was defeated by congress.

Our progress has not been phenomenal. But our first believers were eager to embrace the Message, and their constant missionary work has aided materially in augmenting the attendance at our meetings. A few weeks ago we had our fourth baptism.

Aside from the blessings of God, our onward march will depend on continuous distribution of literature and on house-to-house work; in the latter Mrs. Trummer takes an active part and re- places me when I am away from headquarters.